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Buttington ERF News

Press Release - Post Exhibition update

20 December 2016

Over 110 members of the public visited the recent consultation event regarding the proposed Buttington Quarry Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at the Welshpool Livestock Sales venue. Members of the project team were on hand to provide answers to questions raised at the event.

Visitors were also able to view the specially designed 3-D model of the proposed ERF. The ERF would be located in the quarry void, thus minimising visual impact.

The development represents an investment of £80million in the area and would generate enough power to supply the needs of around 8,000 homes in the region.

Alistair Hilditch-Brown of Broad Energy explained “The Buttington ERF will bring a wide range of environmental and economic benefit. Critically it could divert waste from landfill helping Powys meet its recycling and recovery targets whilst at the same time providing potential savings of over £1m per annum in waste disposal costs.”

The project would also provide a range of benefits to the local economy:
• Approximately 100-150 personnel will be employed on site during the two year construction phase
• Long term commitment to the local community with up to 30 permanent skilled jobs during plant operation
• Additional contract opportunities during construction and operational phases
• Indirect economic benefits to local businesses

The energy recovery facility would act as an anchor development for an eco-business park, a separate development being proposed at the quarry site. Renewable heat in the form of hot water could be supplied to tenants at the future eco-business park and the nearby Offa’s Dyke Business Park.

Alistair Hilditch-Brown went on to say “We were delighted with the attendance at the exhibition; there was a steady stream of people throughout the day. We will be considering all the feedback from local people and from our consultation questionnaire before finalising our plans. We appreciate that impact on local roads was an important issue raised by local residents and we will be looking at ways to minimise any potential impact.”

Initial results from our questionnaire show that there is support, not just for the proposal, but clearly for the principle of using of non-recyclable waste to be converted into energy, rather than going to landfill.

• 70% agreed with the use of residual waste as a fuel to reduce the amount sent to landfill, compared with 15% who disagreed
• 66% agreed with the use of thermal treatment of non-recyclable waste to generate electricity, compared to 21% who disagreed
• 55% supported the redevelopment of the quarry for employment, compared to 30% that disagreed
• 55% thought the quarry void was a good location for the ERF, whereas 36% disagreed
• 45% agreed that they supported the proposal and 38% disagreed.

ENDS
Further details are available from Carole Riley Remarkable Pendragon 0800 169 5290

Notes to editors
About Broad Energy (Wales) Ltd
Broad Energy (Wales) Limited is a special purpose company that has been established to develop the proposed energy recovery facility, this independently owned and operated facility will form a key anchor delivering long term cost effective and efficient energy and heat services as part of the wider plans by the owners of Buttington Quarry to create a sustainable eco-business park.